Fevers

Doctors may be quick to advise and administer acetaminophen and ibuprofen when you or your children spike a fever. The truth is, however, for hundreds of generations fevers were allowed to play a purposeful role in fighting your illnesses for you.

 

Fever is natures way of burning impurities. Its one of the most feared and misunderstood functions of the body. At the onset of fever it is best to

eliminate all solid foods and drink lots of liquids.

 

Lemon juice and water will cleanse the body.

 

Herbs for fever include: Fenugreek, Garlic, Golden Seal, Catnip, Thyme, boneset, chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, raspberry, and yarrow.

 

To induce sweating, steep a tsp of catnip, boneset, mint, and sage in a cupful of hot water for 10 minutes. Stir and strain and drink one cupful

every hour for four or five doses.

 

 

There are many ways to help your fever break gently and lower temperature without shocking your system so quickly that the fever becomes useless. Here are some simple home remedies to reduce a fever naturally:

 

Keep your home at a regular temperature. You may be tempted to raise the thermostat and grab a blanket because you are experiencing chills from your fever. However, it is important to try and keep the outside body temperature a normal 68 degrees to 74 degrees, so you must keep your home at that degree as well.

 

• Wear regular, loose fitting, cotton clothing. Again, you will feel like you want to grab your thickest pair of sweats and get under three of Grandma’s fluffiest quilts. For your fever to run its natural course, the fever needs to breathe through your pores, go through a small amount of sweat and then out through the air to cool your inside body degree slowly.

 

• Take a lukewarm bath. Avoid a hot bath as this will raise your temperature higher inside your body and can become dangerous. Also, do not jump in a cold bath either. This could shock your body and cool it way too quickly. Remember, we are using natural methods so that the fever stays useful to fight against infection. We want to restore the body to its normal temperature gradually to be effective.

 

• Drink lots of fluid. This may seem way too obvious, but when you are not feeling well you may forget this very important step. Water is the best fluid you can administer to your body. Companies will push their electrolyte vitamin water, but if you are not vomiting, you are not losing essentials. Water is used in many ways to reduce a fever naturally. Most importantly, it helps flush the infection that is causing your body to raise your fever, so drinking plenty is a way to help your body along in the process and can reduce the fever sooner. Also, your body is prone to sweat to cool off the fever with cold sweat through your pores. It is a natural defense against your fever. The water must be replenished in your body. It is recommended that you drink 10-12 eight ounce glasses of water each day that you have a fever. You can save the orange juice, the vitamin water and soup broth for later when your fever is down and you want to replenish some calories and other nutrients.

 

• Keep a thermometer nearby. You’ll want to monitor your temperature closely – at least every other hour – to make sure it is staying in a safe range. If it becomes too high (over 103 degrees) this could be an indicator of a serious infection or a life threatening condition. Call your doctor if your fever elevates above this level.

 

Fever Tea #1

2 cups water

½ teaspoon each elder flowers, yarrow flowers, peppermint leaves and hyssop leaves ( if fever is accompanied by a cold, flu or cough)

Pour boiling water over herbs, steep for 10 minutes, then strain out herbs. Give your child as much hot tea as she will drink. This tea can be mixed with an equal amount of fruit juice or lemon water, which also helps to reduce a fever.

One advantage to using herbs to reduce fever is that you probably do not have to worry about Reye’s Syndrome, an often deadly illness that can occur from simply giving a child with the flu some aspirin to bring down her fever. There are no reports of Reye’s Syndrome developing from the use of herbs that contain natural aspirins (salicylates), such as willow and meadowsweet.

A feverish child needs to drink plenty of liquids to keep from becoming dehydrated. Ginger ale is a good bet. Even today, I remember how much I enjoyed ginger ale when I was sick as a kid! Besides reducing fever, ginger fights the germs that cause a cold or flu, and helps relieve such cold and flu symptoms as a queasy stomach and congestion. It also helps eliminate toxins produced in the body during a cold or flu. You can buy a healthy version of ginger ale from the natural food store, or you can make your own.

 

Fever Tea #2

 

2 tsp dried Catnip

 

1 tsp dry Vervain

 

Pour 2 cups boiling water over herbs. Steep 10 minutes & strain.

 

Natural Ginger Ale

1 teaspoon thinly sliced fresh ginger rhizome (or ½ teaspoon ginger powder)

1 teaspoon red raspberry leaves

3 cups water

1 cup carbonated water

1 lemon slice

Combine herbs and plain water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and steep for 10 minutes. Strain out herbs. Add carbonated water and lemon just before serving.

 

Other Fever Remedies:

 

 

 

Some things that you can do at home to help a fever:

 

 

1) Extract 1 teaspoon each juice of tulsi leaves and bel flowers. Add 1 teaspoon honey. Take twice every day.

 

 

2) Tea made by boiling 1teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi dana), taken twice or thrice a day provides excellent remedy. (A little honey or lemon juice can be added to improve the flavour).

 

 

3) Grind a few roots of the mango tree into a fine paste and apply on the palm and soles of the patients.

 

 

4) 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper is mixed in warm water along with 1teaspoon palm candy (sugar obtained from palm). This drink is taken at bedtime.

 

 

5) Apply sandalwood paste on the forehead to bring the temperature down.

 

 

6) Boil 2 tablespoon fennel seeds (saunf) in 1 teacup water till it is reduced to half. Filter. Take 1 tablespoon every morning and evening for a few days.

 

 

7) A decoction of one-tablespoon garlic, 20 leaves of tulsi and one cup of water, if consumed twice daily, gives relief from fever.

 

 

8) Fever of unknown origin:

 

Boil 1 tablespoon tulsi leaves with 1 teaspoon powdered cardamom (chhoti elaichi) in 2 teacups water. Take 1 cup of this decoction with milk and sugar to taste 2 or 3 times a day.